Electric swivel connector



. Jy 23, 19%.' w. F. OE'HLKE .ELECTRIC SWIVEL CONNECTOR 'l Filed Jan. 27, 41944,A 2 shetsheet 2v .JIlllllllIlllll' 7, Irl/rllz' Inventor Patented July 23,: 1946 UNITED STATE ELECTRIC SWIVELCONNECTOR -William F. Boehlke, Iios Angeles, Calif. Application January 27, 1944, Serial No. 519,917

Y .This invention relatesl to new and useful improvements in electrical connectors, theprinci- .pal object of the present invention being to provide a connector for interposition inan electrical i conductor vor conductors, especially for the purpose of preventing kinkling or other distortion of the conductor members.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a swivel connector which can be easily interposedv in.conductors to prevent twisting or other deformations thereof.

Other important objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the connector showing the end caps in place,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 with the end caps removed.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the socket section of the connector.

2' claims. (c1. 17a-324) Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the spring projected contact.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view'of the ball section of the connector.

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the spring projected contact barrel. 4

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the stationary contact'element of the socket section (enlarged).

Figure 8 is a cross section on the line 8--8 of Figure 2.

Figure 9 is an end elevational view oi the connector.

Figure 10 is a side elevational View of a slightly modied form of the invention.

Figure 11 is a longitudinal sectional View taken on the line I I-I I of Figure 10.

It can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, that the connector consists of a socket section 5 and a plug section 6, having jackets 1 and 8, respectively, of some suitable insulation.

The socket section 5 has a longitudinal bore therein for receiving an elongated cylindrical conductor 9 having a cup-shaped contact II against which the contact I2 of a slide plunger 2 have small sockets I1, I8, respectively, into Which conductor wires I9, 20 are secured.

The inner end of the conductor element I5 has a semi-globular pocket or socket for receiving the semi-spherical-shaped head2I which is located on the inner end of a conductor element 22 forming part of the section 6. The element 22 has a longitudinal bore which extends through the head 2Il and this bore is lined with 'a Vsleeve23 of insulation whichat one end receives a conductor plug 24 having a small socket' 25 therein for the reception of a conductor wire 26. The adjacent end of the element 22 also has a recess 21 for the receptionof a conductor Wire 28.

The plunger I3 has a reduced extension 29 dening a shoulder 30 between which and the plug 24 a coiled compression spring 3| is interposed, serving to force the contact I2 against the inner surface of the cup-shaped contact II.

The section 6 has a jacket 36 of insulation which is flared at its inner end as at 31 to overlap the inwardly disposed portion of the insulation jacket 1 as is clearly shown in Figure 2.

It can be seen, that the sections 5, 6 can swivel and thus prevent twisting or kinkling of the conductor wires.

Caps 32 are provided for the ends of the connector and these have tongue portions for disposition in circumferential grooves 33 at the ends of the connector and are also provided with clamp portions 34, 35 for holding the cap to the connec.. tor and also for clamping the corresponding conductor, thus preventing the conductor from easily pulling loose from the connector.

A modication of the invention is shown in Figures 10 and 11. This modification of the invention is substantially the same as that shown in Figures 1 and 2, excepting that the inner end of the section 5 is not rolled over the ball head of the section 6. As shown in Figure 11, section 6a has a ball head 2Ia from which a contact I2a projects` making a riding contact with the cupshaped contact head IIa of a complementary section 5a. Instead of having the socket end of the conductor I5 of the modication of the invention shown in Figure 2 rolled in over the'ball head, the modified structure shown in Figure 11, has the inner end of the section F1a-reduced andexternally threaded as at 40. This `externally threaded portion carries an internally threaded sleeve 4I having a curved surfaced inner portion 42 for engaging the ball 2 I a so as to prevent its displacement.v This-form of connector can easily be disconnected for the purpose of making repairs.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope -of the invention as` claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An velectrical connector comprising male and female sections each having a body of conductive material formed with a longitudinal bore, the

male section having an end formed with a sub-A stantially spherical head and the'female section With a socket rotatably and tiltably receiving the head, jackets of insulation for said sections having extended and overlapped inner end-portions,

each section having a longitudinal bore; a lining 1 of insulation for the bore of each section, the lin-l o ing Vof the female section having its'inner end portion ared and countersunk in the inner portionof the socket, a conductorextending longitudinally through the lined bore of said female section and having a cup-shaped contact at its inner end disposed in said socket in engagement with the ared end ofthe lining vfor'the female section, a conductor fitted into the lined bore of said'male member through the outer end thereof, y

a plunger of conductive material slidable longitudinally in theinner end portion of the bore of said'male member, a spring between said plunger. 30v

and the last-mentioned conductor urging said plunger outwardly and maintaining the plunger in engagement with the cup-shaped end of the rst conductor and outer ends of said sections and said conductors being provided with means for connecting circuit wires therewith. v

2. An electrical connector comprising male and female sections each having a conductive body formed with a longitudinal bore and a lining of insulation `for its bore, said male section having a head at its inner end and Athe female section having a socket at its inner end receiving the Yhead and mountingthe sections for movement f thereto urged from the inner end of the bore and engaging the inner end of the conductor of said female section, outer ends of said bodies and said conductor being formed with wire-receiving sockets, and jackets for said sections having outer ends formed with openings registering with the wire-receiving sockets.

WILLIAM F. BOEHLKE. 

